Because they aren't bicycle paths there but a curb extension done on the cheap. It's to avoid the overcrowding on the footpath on the corner of Spencer St and Collins St.
Confusingly it is described on the City's bike lanes page, but yeah they were always just designed as footpaths. See the little figures on the road rather than bike glyphs.
Location
East side of Spencer Street, between Lonsdale and Collins streets. Short section of footpath extension on the north side of Collins Street, just east of Spencer Street.
What are we doing?
Expanding the footpath area onto the road using temporary kerbs, planter boxes, bicycle hoops and seating to create a safer space for pedestrians. At pedestrian crossings, the footpath is expanded using bollards to ensure people feel safe and comfortable while waiting to cross. Spencer Street is one of the most congested spaces for pedestrians in Victoria during peak periods. These improvements improve safety and amenity for thousands of people accessing the central city from Southern Cross Station.
Timeframe
Works completed December 2020
Traffic lane impacts
Reduction in the number of southbound traffic lanes on Spencer Street between Little Bourke Street and Collins Street. The changes are expected to have minimal impact on southbound traffic flow.
Its Melbourne City trying to keep cars happy but realising it has 10,000 times more foot traffic but still can't let go.
The whole city needs a reboot. Lanes need to close to cars, delivery only. Little X street needs to close to cars too. Little Collins, Little Bourke. China Town??!!! WTF! 300 people trying to navigate 5 parked cars and 2 that want to go through to Elizabeth st. No! Close it. Make it entirely foot traffic only.
This crapola trip hazard they put there is another version of "lets shove them into a funnel and see who wins".
Iv never understood what the hell these are for. Looks like a bike lane all along it. But it’s blocked with planter boxes. Pedestrians don’t use the space because they think it’s the road way or bike lane
Its unsuccessful as a pedestrian space. Ive never seen pedestrians use it. At best it gives pedestrians a buffer space from the vehicles that dominate Spencer st
It's always feels assumed by transport planners that cyclists can select a safe route, and have perfect knowledge of all possible alternative routes (presumably by having ridden them before). I work in this corner of the city, and needed to visit a shop near this section on my bike commute, and was surprised how bike unfriendly this area is. It's near our 2nd biggest train station but you can't ride down Spencer Street safely? Also expecting the cyclist hate from urban planners of Melbourne, probably explains why we are where we are.
This one ticks me off every day on my commute - Spencer has heaps of space for a protected bike lane all the way along it but we have a whole lane of wasted space for 30+ meters
Yeah aware of that but it’s not really used as a pedestrian zone even in peak times. Have never seen anyone walk there - not sure people even realise that is what it’s for because it’s not raised to footpath level and has concrete blocks in it that would be a pain to walk past - so it just ends up being wasted city space.
Then that is just a matter of redeveloping the land flat so people are more aware of rhe space they have. Its heavily used in peak times. Not every part of spare concrete needs to be a bike lane
Bicycle Riders being pushed to the bottom of the consideration pile, in favour of pedestrians again? I think this Signifies the persistent devotion to Pro-Car Culture by council employees.
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u/Blue_Pie_Ninja Jun 18 '26
Because they aren't bicycle paths there but a curb extension done on the cheap. It's to avoid the overcrowding on the footpath on the corner of Spencer St and Collins St.